VALLEY ROUNDUP | Santa Clarita

Police Identify Man Killed on Freeway

The Valencia man who was killed early Saturday morning as he ran across the Antelope Valley Freeway trying to reach a call box has been identified as John Joseph Dupree Jr.

Dupree had been driving northbound about 2:30 a.m. when his vehicle blew a tire just north of Golden Valley Road, according to a California Highway Patrol officer. He pulled onto the center divider, then jumped over it, apparently in hopes of getting to a call box on the southbound side.

While in the traffic lanes, Dupree was struck by a Toyota 4-Runner and killed instantly.

No criminal charges were filed against the driver of the Toyota, who investigators said was driving at a reasonable speed.